Drilling car for close spaces

ABSTRACT

Drill carriage ( 1 ) for rock drilling, which is intended for cramped spaces, comprising a crawler-tread chassis ( 2 ) of at least two crawler treads ( 11 ), a superstructure ( 3 ) fitted to the crawler-tread chassis ( 2 ), and a set of booms ( 8 ). At the end of the set of booms ( 10 ) at least a drilling apparatus ( 19 ) can be attached. A front part ( 4 ), to which the set of booms ( 8 ) is fitted from the end opposite to the drilling apparatus ( 19 ), attached in front of the carrier ( 1 ), in the direction of travel of the crawler treads ( 11 ). The set of booms ( 8 ) is attached to a rotation ring ( 9 ), with the aid of which a good reach is made possible for the device.

The present invention relates to a drill carriage for rock drilling taking place in cramped spaces.

Devices of this kind are used in, among other places, quarries, built-up areas, cramped cellars, and renovation sites for bolting and particularly pre-split drilling in cramped spaces. Drill carriages are available, which have a fixed track width and an articulated boom structure that rotates in a relatively narrow sector. The set of booms is typically attached to the main frame of the machine by means of a pivoted joint and in the drilling situation such drill carriages are supported on the ground with the aid of separate supporting legs.

These drill carriages are not designed specially for drilling carried out in cramped spaces. The devices have been so large, that it has been difficult to bring them into cellars, for example. Once inside, the problem has often been that it has been impossible to move the machine into the position required for the work. With many machines, the drilling of vertical holes in particular can only take place in front of the machine. Even in these cases, drilling right next to the wall has not always been possible, because the drilling machine has been to the side of the feed beam. The work has demanded space, due to both the external dimensions of the machines and the space taken by the articulated boom structure. Due to these problems, extensive demolition of structures may have been required, or else drilling has been performed using manual methods.

The present invention is intended to create a drill carriage, which can be more flexibly used in cramped spaces.

Further, various embodiments of the invention are intended to create a drill carriage, in which the available space can provide sufficient support for drilling operations.

According to one embodiment, the invention is intended to create a drill carriage, the width of which can be changed to facilitate movement, and to create support for the drilling operation.

Considerable advantages are gained with the aid of the invention.

The drill carriage according to the invention will fit into cramped spaces for working better than previous drill carriages of a corresponding power class. In addition, the boom structure has a good reach on the various sides of the machine, which reduces the need to move the machine. As the drill carriage can carry out the necessary drilling work easily, rock removal causes the least possible vibration. This is important when operating in the immediate vicinity of structures.

The advantages are greatest in cramped cellars, among other places, in which it is desired, for example, to increase space by removing bedrock, or to carry out other renovations requiring the removal of rock. The device is particularly suitable for drilling a pre-split tight against a wall, and for other drilling carried out in cramped spaces. In addition, the low level of noise form the machine facilitates work near dwellings.

The said problems are avoided by using the drill carriage according to the invention, because the drill carriage is smaller in size that previous drill carriages. The small size is achieved in part by making the track width between the crawler treads adjustable. When the device moves in cramped spaces, the track is narrow while when drilling the track can be increased to achieve the best possible support.

The smallest possible size and nevertheless good support are also made possible by the front part of the carriage, where the machine's support legs are located, being able to be raised and lowered with the aid of a hydraulic cylinder (tilt function). When working in cramped spaces, the entire front part can be lowered and supported on the ground. If space is available, better support is obtained by lowering the support legs separately, so that the support points are farther apart.

Good reach is achieved by giving the set of booms a telescopic construction, and by the attachment base at the end of the booms being rotatable horizontally. The superstructure of the machine does not rotate along with the boom, thus also assisting operation in cramped spaces.

For its part, the front part of the drill carriage described above, which can be raised and lowered, also improves the usability of the device and increases its reach in cramped spaces, as the boom is attached to the said tiltable front part. In turn, drilling right next to a wall will be successful in different directions, because the feed device of the drilling machine, and thus also the drilling machine, is attached to the front of the feed beam.

The drill carriage according to the invention for cramped spaces is characterized by what is stated in the characterizing portion of the Claims.

The invention is described further with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the drill carriage according to the invention seen at an angle from in front.

FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the drill carriage, with the variable track width in the narrowest position.

FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the drill carriage, with the variable track width of the drill carriage in the widest position.

FIG. 4 shows the drill carriage seen at an angle from in front, with the set of booms rotated to the side of the drill carriage, with the aid of the rotating ring.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the drill carriage.

FIG. 1 shows the drill carriage 1, which is smaller in size than other drill carriages of a corresponding weight class (1000-4000 kg). The invention is not limited to this weight class, but can also be applied to larger drill carriages, even up to the 6000-kg class and greater. In the drill carriage 1, there is crawler-tread chassis 2. The crawler-tread chassis 2 is a conventional drive unit comprising two driving treads, to which the track-width adjustment function described later is connected. The superstructure has been made fixed and the drilling apparatus is a separate unit in front of the carriage. The treads 11 of the crawler-tread chassis are attached at their centres to the chassis structure rotatably by a pivot and can be both rotated independently around the pivot by means of a hydraulic cylinder. Thus, the treads 11 can be arranged to travel according to the shape of the surface of the base of the operating site while the treads can, if necessary, be used to raise the front or rear of the carriage. As a power source inside the superstructure 3 there is a diesel engine, or alternatively an electric motor, which is operated with the aid of a separate current supply.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the variable track width of the machine. In FIG. 2, the track width is at its narrowest and in FIG. 3 at its widest. The track width that can be narrowed permits the machine to be moved along tight routes to the work site. Drilling too is possible using a small track width, but if space is available, the track width should be increased to achieve better support. To change the track width, there is a set of telescoping beams 10 in the crawler-tread chassis 2, the width of which can be altered, for example, by hydraulic operation or electrically to adapt the machine either to move in cramped spaces, in which case the treads are set to their narrowest position, or, if the space permits, to their maximum width to support the machine. Naturally, intermediate positions can also be used.

Flexible operation of the machine in drilling is permitted by the front part 4 of the carriage, which comprises a frame 12, which is attached to the chassis of the machine by two pivoted arms 13 and a rotating pivot 14. One end of each pivot arm is attached to a hydraulic cylinder 6, the opposite end of the hydraulic cylinder 6 being attached to the chassis of the machine. It will now be possible, with the aid of the hydraulic cylinders and the pivot construction, to lower and raise the entire front part 4 of the machine. During drilling, the front part 4 is lowered, so that it is supported from its corners 5 on the chassis and permits drilling. The machine can also be raised by the hydraulic cylinders 6, in which case additional weight will be obtained for the front part. At the sides of the front part 4, there are also pivoted support legs 7, which can be rotated using hydraulic cylinders. The use of the support legs 7 gives better lateral support, due to the wider support, while the height of the front end of the machine can be further adjusted over a wider area together with the adjustment of the position of the front part 4.

The set of booms shown in FIG. 4 is attached to a rotation ring 9, thus making the set of booms rotatable horizontally from the attachment base. The rotation ring is in turn attached to the front part 4 of the drilling carriage, which can be raised and lowered. In this way, the set of booms 8 can be rotated independently around the rotation point of the rotation ring 9, irrespective of the positions of the treads 2, superstructure 3, or front part 4 of the drill carriage 1. FIG. 4 illustrates how the attachment of the rotating base of the set of booms 8 to the front part 4 allows the booms to be rotated almost to the rear side of the machine and permits drilling over a large area, without moving the machine. The superstructure 3 does not rotate along with the boom and thus does not require space for rotation. In addition, the front part of the superstructure 3 has been given a sloping shape, so as to be as low as possible and not to obstruct the movement of the boom part 8 in the direction of the slope of the superstructure.

FIGS. 4 and 5 also show the two pivoted points of the boom structure. The set of booms 8 is attached by a first pivot 18 to a support structure secured in the rotation ring 9 in the front part 4 of the machine. The first boom arm, which is attached to the second boom art by a second pivot 17, starts from the first pivot 18. The second boom arm 15 is a telescopically operating hollow structure, which is used to give the machine a good reach, while, on the other hand, the retracted set of booms 8 will fit into even tight spaces. At the end of the telescoping boom 15 there is a drilling apparatus, which is not described in greater detail here, as it can be any drilling apparatus whatever that is suitable for the purpose. Different kinds of device can be fitted as the drilling apparatus, the actual drill boom 19 being attached to the telescoping boom by means of a pivot 16, with the aid of which the attitude of the drill boom can in turn be altered. In terms of good reach and small size, one essential feature is the telescopic property of the boom. In FIG. 5, the telescopic part 15 is in the shortest position and in FIG. 4 in the most extended position.

In summary, it can be stated that a drill carriage according to the invention used for rock drilling can include one or ore of the following features. The operating range of the carriage is preferably that of a drill carriage 1 of a size class 1000-4000 kg for cramped spaces, though it can be slightly heavier. The carriage 1 can be equipped with crawler treads 2 with a variable track width, to make it suitable for cramped conditions and to increase stability during drilling. In the drilling situation, the carriage 1 is supported with the aid of the tilt function of front part 4 of the carriage 1 that can be raised and lowered while the set of booms 8 of the carriage 1 is attached to the tiltable front part 4 of the carriage 1. The set of booms 8, which can be rotated around more or less the entire structure of the carriage is attached from its base to a rotation ring 9, in such a way that the superstructure 3 remains non-rotating. In the set of booms 8 of the carriage 1 there is a telescopic part 15 for altering the length of the set of booms 8 and for achieving a good reach. 

1. Drill carriage (1) for rock drilling in cramped spaces, which drill carriage (1) comprises a crawler-tread chassis (2) comprising at least two crawler treads (11), a superstructure (3) fitted to the crawler-tread chassis (2), and a set of booms (8), to the first end of which at least a drilling apparatus (19) can be attached, characterized by a front part (4), to which the set of booms (8) is fitted from the end opposite to the drilling apparatus (19), attached in front of the carrier (1), in the direction of travel of the crawler treads (11).
 2. Drill carriage according to claim 1, characterized in that the set of booms (8) is attached to the front part (4) through a rotation ring (9).
 3. Drill carriage according to claim 1, characterized in that the front part (4) is attached to the carriage (1), in such a way that is can be raised and lowered relative to the carriage (1), in order to support the front part (4) on the travelling surface of the drilling site.
 4. Drill carriage according to claim 1, characterized in that the set of booms (8) includes at least one telescopic arm (15).
 5. Drill carriage according to claim 1, characterized in that the width of the path of the set of crawler treads (2) can be altered.
 6. Drill carriage according to claim 1, characterized in that the front part of the superstructure (5) of the carriage (1) is lower that the rear part, in order to permit the movement of the set of booms (8).
 7. Drill carriage according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two rotatable support legs (7) are arranged in the front part (4).
 8. Drill carriage according to claim 1, characterized in that the set of booms (8) is arranged to move independently from the superstructure. 